How flight experience impacts pilots' decision-making and visual scanning pattern in low-visibility approaches:...

Area of Science:

• Aviation Psychology
• Human Factors in Flight Safety
• Pilot Decision-Making

Background:

• The visual approach phase is critical and prone to accidents, particularly in low-visibility conditions.
• Pilot decision-making and visual scanning patterns are crucial for safe flight operations, especially during critical phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how flight experience influences pilots' decision-making and visual scanning strategies during low-visibility approaches.
• To compare the performance and behavior of pilots with varying levels of flight experience in simulated low-visibility scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Twenty pilots were divided into two groups based on flight experience.
• Participants completed high- and low-visibility approaches in a high-fidelity flight simulator.
• Eye-tracking technology recorded pilots' visual scanning patterns and mental workload.

Main Results:

• Experienced pilots were significantly more likely to initiate go-around procedures in low visibility (80%) compared to less experienced pilots (20%).
• Experienced pilots demonstrated more flexible visual scanning, characterized by fewer fixations and more saccades, indicating efficient attention shifting.
• Differences in decision-making and visual scanning suggest a correlation between experience and enhanced situational awareness in challenging conditions.

Conclusions:

• Flight experience significantly impacts go-around decision-making and visual scanning efficiency in low-visibility approaches.
• Developing integrated visual scanning strategies and training solutions for marginally meteorological conditions can improve safety for novice pilots.
• Findings underscore the importance of experience-based adaptive behaviors for mitigating risks during critical flight phases.